Assemblyman Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita) penned his thoughts about the proposed public safety cuts by the Democrats in the latest budget crisis and how it will affect his constituents in the 38th Assembly District.

Recently, Democrats at the State Capitol proposed a state budget plan that includes over $150 million in real cuts to local law enforcement and vital public safety programs across California

What will the Democrat public safety cuts mean for families in and around the 38th district?

California's police chiefs and sheriffs have said this plan would result in more than 1,000 police officers and deputy sheriffs statewide being taken off the street. Funding for rural sheriffs, community policing, the war on methamphetamine production and forensic services like DNA analysis and fingerprinting samples would all be decimated under the Democrat plan.

What is most disturbing is that the Democrat budget plan increases spending in nearly every other area of government, including a 6.6% increase in health and welfare programs, but cuts vital public safety funding.

Even worse, the Democrat budget plan includes a dangerous direct discharge parole plan that will release thousands of parolees into our communities without being supervised by a parole officer. We will have no idea where they are living or if they are returning to a life of crime.

We must do better. I will continue to fight to protect public safety, support local law enforcement and stop this irresponsible spending plan. Lawmakers must go back to the drawing board and work together to craft a responsible budget that gets the deficit under control while protecting important priorities like public safety.

For more information about what Assembly Republicans are doing to defend law enforcement and protect taxpayers, please visit our website at www.assembly.ca.gov/republicans.